Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale | Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Anderson Valley Brewing Company
California, United States
avbc.com
Style: Winter Warmer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.90%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
Winter Solstice® is our take on the classic style of “winter warmer.” Boasting a deep amber hue and rich mouthfeel, its creamy finish will lift your spirits. Hints of toffee, spice, and caramel tease the senses making this the perfect ale to share with friends and family during the cold days and long nights of winter.
Added by maxpower on 11-18-2001
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,859 | Reviews: 743
3.8/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip glass.
L---Clear, dark amber color. Nice, fluffy, off-white head with good retention and excellent lacing.
S---Sweet, malty & spices are upfront. Cinnamon & nutmeg.
T---Stronger spices than in the nose. Cinnamon & nutmeg are obvious. Very sweet & malty. Vanilla, caramel & toffee combine to make up the sweetness. Tastes like a winter warmer, which is their aim.
F---A bit cloying from the sweetness. Creamy. Medium feel with ok carbonation.
O---Not the best winter warmer I've had this year. Good enough, but not one I'll get again.
583 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip glass.
L---Clear, dark amber color. Nice, fluffy, off-white head with good retention and excellent lacing.
S---Sweet, malty & spices are upfront. Cinnamon & nutmeg.
T---Stronger spices than in the nose. Cinnamon & nutmeg are obvious. Very sweet & malty. Vanilla, caramel & toffee combine to make up the sweetness. Tastes like a winter warmer, which is their aim.
F---A bit cloying from the sweetness. Creamy. Medium feel with ok carbonation.
O---Not the best winter warmer I've had this year. Good enough, but not one I'll get again.
583 characters
3.81/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.98/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Good beer. Felt like like it should have some bitterness that switches to toffee malty sweetness right before the bite would set in.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Good beer. Felt like like it should have some bitterness that switches to toffee malty sweetness right before the bite would set in.
132 characters
3.34/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
4.52/5 rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
De Labireatorium. En copa Teku. En almuerzo, con papas fritas con huevos fritos + san jacobo. Marcado especiado navideño con delicioso fondo de malta acaramelada y relativamente bajo abv. Descubro asi mi preferido perfil navideño!
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
De Labireatorium. En copa Teku. En almuerzo, con papas fritas con huevos fritos + san jacobo. Marcado especiado navideño con delicioso fondo de malta acaramelada y relativamente bajo abv. Descubro asi mi preferido perfil navideño!
232 characters
4.48/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.53/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Burnt orange meets brick red. Lighlty tanned head with minimal retention.
Smells and tastes like cream soda mixed with an amber ale.
Smooth and lightly creamy. Easy to drink and on the sweet side.
A decent beer that used to be a very welcomed annual choice. A bit too sweet for my liking now.
Cheers.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Burnt orange meets brick red. Lighlty tanned head with minimal retention.
Smells and tastes like cream soda mixed with an amber ale.
Smooth and lightly creamy. Easy to drink and on the sweet side.
A decent beer that used to be a very welcomed annual choice. A bit too sweet for my liking now.
Cheers.
309 characters
3.89/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I am tasting some malts, some vanilla. I agree with some toffee & caramel. Cheers! B
84 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I am tasting some malts, some vanilla. I agree with some toffee & caramel. Cheers! B
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3.89/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Good deep color with thick head. Smooth taste that leaves as cleanly as water. Has that strong toffee taste that I didn’t think I would like but is definitely welcomed.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Good deep color with thick head. Smooth taste that leaves as cleanly as water. Has that strong toffee taste that I didn’t think I would like but is definitely welcomed.
170 characters
3.63/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2.88/5 rDev -25.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
4.43/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This might have easily been the first Winter Warmer I had - or at least, even if I had one, I didn't remember it. But this one I will for sure.
This one tastes amazing, with perfectly well balanced vanilla and bourbon, something like a kind of a cake or sweets or confectionery but without the sticky sweetness - could it even be semi dry? Therefore it is very well balanced: it feels sweet and playful but it doesn't overwhelm you with its sugars, just the sweetness in its taste. Just the sweet feeling.
A really good and unique Winter Warmer, it warms you up by making you feel good.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This might have easily been the first Winter Warmer I had - or at least, even if I had one, I didn't remember it. But this one I will for sure.
This one tastes amazing, with perfectly well balanced vanilla and bourbon, something like a kind of a cake or sweets or confectionery but without the sticky sweetness - could it even be semi dry? Therefore it is very well balanced: it feels sweet and playful but it doesn't overwhelm you with its sugars, just the sweetness in its taste. Just the sweet feeling.
A really good and unique Winter Warmer, it warms you up by making you feel good.
586 characters
3.51/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.6/5 rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A very drinkable, enjoyable, smooth ,and satisfying brew! Got it in the can at Total Wine & More in St Pete, FL, Park St.N., on May 14, 2018, for $5.99.! Niiiiice! I actually drank this beer 8 or 10 years ago in the bottle and was not impressed back then. I taste some toffee and butterscotch with a nice semi-dry finish. It's a very drinkable, enjoyable, easy-drinking beer. For $5.99, this beer could not be beat when looking at getting the most bang for your buck!!!! I enjoyed drinking it out of a cold can! I love my winter warmers!!! Who's selling SnowCap??!?!?
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A very drinkable, enjoyable, smooth ,and satisfying brew! Got it in the can at Total Wine & More in St Pete, FL, Park St.N., on May 14, 2018, for $5.99.! Niiiiice! I actually drank this beer 8 or 10 years ago in the bottle and was not impressed back then. I taste some toffee and butterscotch with a nice semi-dry finish. It's a very drinkable, enjoyable, easy-drinking beer. For $5.99, this beer could not be beat when looking at getting the most bang for your buck!!!! I enjoyed drinking it out of a cold can! I love my winter warmers!!! Who's selling SnowCap??!?!?
568 characters
3.84/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: Pours with half-finger head that quickly dissipates. Maple syrup in color.
S: Apple, vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Not very strong.
F: Medium mouthfeel. Slightly sticky syrupy.
T: Vanilla, caramel, toffee, and nutty malts with just barely enough hops.
O: Overall, nice beer for a cold day. Very drinkable, hides the alcohol well, but also quite forgettable.
365 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: Pours with half-finger head that quickly dissipates. Maple syrup in color.
S: Apple, vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Not very strong.
F: Medium mouthfeel. Slightly sticky syrupy.
T: Vanilla, caramel, toffee, and nutty malts with just barely enough hops.
O: Overall, nice beer for a cold day. Very drinkable, hides the alcohol well, but also quite forgettable.
365 characters
3.94/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very good
9 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very good
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3.59/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.89/5 rDev +26.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Velvety smooth...hints of vanilla and winter spices. On draft poured out with a whispy and tasty head.
103 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Velvety smooth...hints of vanilla and winter spices. On draft poured out with a whispy and tasty head.
103 characters
4.27/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pint on nitro (which probably accounts for the higher appearance & lower smell ratings) at the Brass Tap here in Baltimore
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pint on nitro (which probably accounts for the higher appearance & lower smell ratings) at the Brass Tap here in Baltimore
122 characters
Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.87 out of
5 with
1,859 ratings
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